Causes and Symptoms of Trauma...And How to Move Forward

Many people have heard the term trauma and know a bit about what it is.
However, they’re not always sure of what it associates with or exactly
how it is caused. This is a common theme, but understanding trauma can
help those coping with the conditions, as well as those who know someone
dealing with trauma.

Typically, the term trauma is associated with the longer form, post-traumatic
stress disorder. This is the common condition experienced by soldiers
who return from war and often relive the memories on a regular basis.
However, that is not the only cause of trauma.

There are various other situations that can cause trauma and the symptoms
involved. Here are some things you need to know about how trauma is caused,
what symptoms to look out for, and ways you can move forward if you are
suffering from the conditions associated with trauma.

Accidents as a Cause for Trauma

Everyone knows that accidents can result in physical injuries. These are
what most personal injury trials focus on. However, that’s not the
only harm that can result from a serious auto, motorcycle, truck, or other
type of accident. There’s emotional hardships that can also occur.

Trauma is caused by the experience of an emotional event that often leads
to long-term memories that impact how a person lives their life. The event
can be damaging in a number of ways, but it typically leads to fear and
anxiety in the future when a survivor is put in a similar situation.

During a car accident, the mind works in a different way than it typically
does with the emotional reaction taking over and evoking feelings of shock,
anxiety, and fear. The memory sensors often misplace some of the facts
of the event, leading to flashbacks in the future, many of which are combined
with an irrational fear of the consequences of the event, despite nothing
really happening.

The result is a traumatic experience and the underlying disorder that can
develop after exposure to the specific event. While accidents can be potential
causes, any other injury-causing incident may also be a potential cause
of trauma.

Symptoms You May Want to Look For

The symptoms typically experienced by accident survivors vary and can be
categorized based on the way in which they are affected. For instance,
this can include physical symptoms, or changes in behavior. Either way,
it is important to recognize the various symptoms so you understand when
anxiety and fear may be taking over.

Physical Signs

Some of the physical signs associated with trauma include trouble sleeping
or low energy. This often results in fatigue, especially when the survivor
has trouble with their appetite and eating. One other sign can be referred
to as phantom pain, which is an unexplainable sensation typically felt
at a location on the body that has been harmed before.

Emotional Signs

Typically, anxiety and fear are the two most common symptoms of trauma,
resulting in a panic when the survivor is in a situation similar to the
event in which they were harmed. Derealization, or feeling like you’re
out of your own body, is also an emotional symptom of the trauma.

Cognitive Signs

Cognitive symptoms often disrupt common actions in a survivor’s life.
This can include distractions from regular events such as work or a lack
of concentration. Memory problems and troubles with decision making can
also be common.

Behavioral Signs

Trauma may also impact the way a person behaves such as how they eat, how
they communicate with others, and the way they approach certain situations.
It can cause mood swings and reactions to various things. Compulsion may
also result from the trauma.

Flashbacks

Flashbacks are some of the most common occurrences you’ll see when
it comes to trauma. Whether triggered by a real time event or a nightmare,
sights, sounds, or smells can recreate the memory in the victim’s
mind. This often comes along with the feeling of anxiety and fear common
when it comes to trauma.

How to Move Forward

Trauma is not easy to overcome, but that doesn’t mean that it is
impossible to do so. There are various treatment options available, but
there are also plenty of steps a survivor can take in order to lessen
the hold it has on your life. Here are some things you can do to cope
with trauma.

Keep a Journal

Similar to when a person is injured and keeps a pain journal, documenting
times you feel anxious or scared, as well as the related circumstances
could help you identify triggers that cause the feelings or flashbacks.
Once you identify the triggers, you can confront them and work to overcome
the fear and anxiety.

Speak with Others About Your Situation

Sometimes, it’s best to talk about how your feeling and listen to
what others have to say. This is especially true in group therapy sessions
in which others have experienced traumatic events and can relate to what
you’re feeling. They can give tips on ways to deal with the anxiety
and stress.

Find Positive Outlets to Occupy Your Mind

Anxiety and fear are often set off by negative reactions or reminders of
the injury-causing incident. To help prevent those feelings, you can avoid
negative situations and find outlets that keep your mind focused on positive
things. Try new activities not related to the incident with people you
know support you.

Remember R.A.I.N.

When someone mentions R.A.I.N. in regards to trauma, it means recognize,
allow, investigate, and not let it define you. Make sure you recognize
your emotions, allow them to exist, investigate why they are there, and
not let them define you. Just because you feel something, it isn’t
who you are.

Make a List of Outs

If you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, you need to ensure
you have ways to get out of it and avoid triggers. This could include
breathing exercises for when you deal with a flashback or avoiding the
area in which your accident occurred.

The Serious Nature of Trauma

Far too often, people allow trauma to dictate how they live their lives.
They avoid certain places or interactions because of the fear and anxiety
that results. One form of treatment could be to face the feelings head
on with the realization that there is no consequence this time. There
will not be an injury.

Trauma is very serious. It impacts the lives of survivors, as well as those
around them. It controls many aspects and forces many to live in fear.
Overcoming it can be the most victorious feeling a survivor can have because
it allows them to move forward without concern of what will happen. There’s
no feeling of fear when you recognize that memories are simply that…they
are events that have already happened.

As a survivor, you have already lived through one of life’s most
difficult situations. You avoided tragedy. You can overcome anything,
including the feelings and conditions associated with trauma. And when
you need help, there are a number of resources you can utilize to guide
you towards a positive, productive, and anxiety-free future. You just
have to take the first steps to healing and allowing yourself to live
without fear.

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